Goa is blessed with a vast coastline which is dotted with several world-famous beaches. Goa can now be known not only as a land of Sun, Sand and Sea but also Sports. National and international sports are now making a mark on the sands of Goan beaches. The four-day Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour 2023 Goa challenge was held at Miramar beach from October 19 to 22. It was the first time that a major world-level beach volleyball tournament was hosted by India. Beach football, which remained a fringe sport in India all these years even though FIFA has hosted 11 editions of the Beach Soccer World Cup so far, is now a part of the National Games in Goa. The top seven teams from the Men’s National Beach Soccer Championships and hosts Goa, are fighting it out for the title at the picturesque Colva Beach. Bruno Coutinho, the former India football team captain and Arjuna awardee is the coach of the hosts Goa team in the National Games. Sports need not be restricted to just the playing ground and stadium. Beaches can be a place to play various sports which can also include beach basketball, beach cricket, beach handball, beach rugby, beach wrestling, beach polo and indigenous sports like kabbadi, kho-kho, yoga to name a few. Goa can cash in on its vast coastline and host various national and international beach sports.
